BALTIMORE DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR DISTRIBUTING HEROIN IN FAIRFAX COUNTY

FAIRFAX, Va. (December 11, 2015) - Attorney General Mark R. Herring and Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh announced that Dartegnon Smith, 36, of Baltimore, Md., was sentenced to 20 years in prison, 14 years of which was suspended by County Circuit Court Judge John M. Tran for the distribution of heroin.

"Hearing from parents who have lost their children to this heroin epidemic serves as a powerful motivation for cases like this where drugs are being trafficked into Virginia from Baltimore," said Attorney General Mark R. Herring. "People who profit off of the despair and crippling effects of addiction must be held accountable and I am thankful my prosecutors were able to work with Commonwealth's Attorney Morrogh's office to secure a favorable outcome."

Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin on September 16, 2015. According to a statement of facts presented in open court, between January 2014 and August 2014, the defendant conspired with others to distribute heroin in the Centreville area of Fairfax County, Va. During the conspiracy, the defendant transported drugs from Maryland into Fairfax County.

This case was prosecuted by Virginia Assistant Attorney General Marc J. Birnbaum and Fairfax County Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Robert D. McClain following an investigation by the Fairfax County Police Department and the Northern Virginia multi-jurisdiction grand jury.

As part of his five point plan to combat the troubling spike in heroin fatalities in Virginia, Attorney General Herring is partnering with local and federal prosecutors to pursue more cases against heroin dealers, especially those whose drugs lead to a death. He also gained passage of key legislation this year to help prevent heroin fatalities, and is currently developing training materials to assist law enforcement in combating heroin in their communities as a well as an educational campaign. Most recently, he has debuted "Heroin: the Hardest Hit," a powerful documentary and educational campaign to boost prevention efforts across the Commonwealth.